Peony seeds that have been collected can be planted right away, either outside in the garden or indoors in seedling trays or pots. Warmth-cold-warmth cycles are necessary for peony seedlings to develop their first genuine leaves.
In the natural world, seeds are spread on warm late summer to fall days and grow swiftly. By winter, they have developed tiny but useful roots. During the winter, they lay dormant before emerging as the soil warms in the spring. Peony seed trays or pots can be placed in a warm, sunny spot after being kept in a refrigerator drawer for about three months to simulate this natural cycle.
Harvested peony seeds can also be planted to create new peonies by placing them in a plastic sandwich bag with damp peat and vermiculite. Until roots start to form in the bag, keep the bag tight and set it in a dark area with a constant temperature of 70 to 75 F (21 to 24 C). After that, store the bag in the crisper of your refrigerator until spring when you may plant the plants outside.
Should I remove the peony seed pods?
My transfer of several fragrant peonies from Kentucky was successful. The seedpod cluster remains when the bloom fades. Are those pods in need of pruning? Rebecca Pell, county of Fayette
A: Peony seedpods don’t prevent further blooming because no fresh flowers are anticipated after spring. However, because they lessen the plant’s summer bloom, most people remove them as soon as they are seen. Before it turns brown in November, there is no need to remove any leaf. The common peony can then be cut all the way back to the ground. Reminder: If you have a tree peony, avoid cutting the brown structural twigs all the way to the ground. Tip: To prevent people from stepping on my peony clumps in the winter, I made 1″ wide rims from the tops of old plastic pots and placed them around dormant plants to make them stand out more.
A tree that was felled five years ago keeps producing tiny sweetgum saplings on my fescue lawn. What is the most effective way to guarantee that I destroy every sapling? Randy Harrison, County of Gwinnett
A: In all honesty, the most effective method is the most basic: Regularly clip or mow the leafy sprouts to starve the sweetgum root fragments that are still alive after the main tree was felled. I promise that if you regularly remove the leaves, the sprouts will eventually cease growing.
Do you have any recommendations for the ideal soil type for a bonsai tree kept indoors?
Email from Kristin Jones
A number of “tree-like” houseplants can be trained to have the traditional bonsai appearance. The Norfolk Island pine, ficus, and jade plant are excellent choices. They therefore don’t require anything more complex than ordinary potting soil. But one thing to remember is that your plants will continue to grow in the same container for a while. The earth will eventually become compacted and less permeable to water as time goes on. Put a reminder in your calendar to replace the soil in your indoor bonsai every few years.
A yellow jacket nest appears in my yard each year. I discovered the newest nest on Sunday (i.e. I got stung three times). Is there anything I can do to make my yard less appealing to yellow jackets? email from Michael Morrow
A: Last week, I “found” a nest on my own, but I only got two stings. I had to cross a shady pine island to get to the entrance. Yellow jackets cannot be repelled in any way. Being extremely vigilant in areas where they might build a nest is all that is required. At bit.ly/GAyellowjacket, I have information regarding their habits as well as many trap types.
Can peony seed pods be planted?
If you didn’t deadhead in June, some of your types might have peony seed capsules. On the tips of peony stems, there are stiff, leathery growths that frequently raise questions in my mind.
The majority of people are relieved to learn that they are seed pods and may even be viable. Peonies can be grown from seed, yes. A mature peony plant can be grown from seed, however it takes a little longer than from a root division.
Blitz Tort, Delavan Rose, Flame, Mischief, Lemon Chiffon, Lois Kelsey, Nosegay, Picotee, Topeka Garnet, Villosa, and White Sands are a few of the well-known peony seed manufacturers. When I deadhead a particular variety, I will occasionally leave a few spent flowers to generate open pollinated seed in the late summer. Sometimes I leave a couple on cultivars that hardly ever or never produce pods in case “this is the year.”
Although it’s a little early to consider mature peony seeds in July, we are a few weeks ahead of Oregon’s usual temperature. We experienced an early spring, and this summer’s crops are all moving at full speed. Over two weeks ago, I discovered a few Paeonia mlokosewitschii plants with fractured seed pods.
Many of the peony seed pods in the field are already opening, as I noticed while scouting them. Yikes! The noegay seed has already been dispersed. This is far earlier than the typical seed ripening in mid- to late August. The majority of seed is still in its developing stage (green pods), however keep an eye out to spot the pods beginning to open, at which point you can harvest your seed.
I place mine in a dish of water, toss the sinkers (presumably hollow or underdeveloped) and the floaters (red on P. mlokosewitschii) and plant the viable ones. Every peony variety that sets seed will have somewhat different colored viable seed, with colors ranging from tan to dark brown, blue-black, and black. Some will germinate the upcoming spring, while others will the spring after. Label the seed parent accurately (and the pollen parent if you hybridized it). You might develop the next, best peony plant with a little perseverance.
With our peony seed photo session this summer, it was a family affair. I picked a handmade ceramic vase to put a few pods in, and my niece Soraya took the gorgeous pictures.
Although I was aware that my sister Janet had created the vase in high school ceramics class in 1973, the fact that our photo session coincided with her birthday was purely coincidental (I never even made the connection until I was typing this). I know Janet likes being a part of my farm even though she has only seen it from above.
When should peony seeds be planted?
Planting peony seeds outdoors as soon as they are mature, or in late summer if you buy dried seed in the fall or winter, is the simplest way to ensure that they thrive and sprout. Although some will require a further year, some will start to grow in the spring after planting.
Do peony seeds need to be soaked before planting?
My beautiful peonies are a part of my house. There are these odd-looking pods where the blooms were in one of the three patches I have this year. Each one appears to contain tiny seeds. How am I to handle them? They must be peony seeds, I suppose. Are they sown in the spring or the fall?
Here is how the American Peony Society recommends doing it, Carolyn:
1) Soak the seed for a few days in fresh water, changing it once or twice daily. The seed is moistened in this process, which could also aid in removing germination inhibitors. Seeds that have turned moldy or mushy should be thrown away.
2) Put the wet seeds and just damp vermiculite or peat moss in a plastic bag and zip it up.
Are peonies deadheaded after blooming?
The health of your peony will benefit from deadheading wasted blossoms. By removing the wasted blossoms, the plant is prevented from developing seed pods and can instead use that energy to store food instead. The energy requirements for the flowering and growth the following year will be met in part by the food that was previously saved.
Disease Prevention
As they start to droop and disintegrate, peony blooms frequently contract fungal illnesses like botrytis. The botrytis fungus grows at the base of rotting stalks, produces spores, and can endure the winter. These same spores can grow again in the spring if they are not controlled, spread to dead blossoms, and infect them. A gray mold will form as the illness worsens and spread to further branches and blossoms, potentially harming the peony as a whole.
After deadheading, it’s crucial to properly dispose of the spent blooms. In the event that they have botrytis or any fungus-related disease, do not compost them.
Longer Blooms
Peonies can be encouraged to bloom for twice as long by deadheading as they normally would. More energy can be used to sustain healthy blooming longer by deadheading spent blooms. In addition, peony cultivars that develop numerous buds per stem might produce a few extra flowers than they normally would.
Visual Appeal
Last but not least, deadheading wilted and drooping peony blossoms enhances the aesthetic appeal of your plants. Wilting blossoms can frequently result in rot, which can draw pests and give peony plants a sad appearance. Below are some well-kept peonies that are attractive to look at.
How to Deadhead Peonies
After discussing the benefits of deadheading wilting peony, let’s look at a fast, step-by-step tutorial on how to do it.
1. Examine the faded blossoms with care. On the same stem, are there more flower buds? Avoid removing any buds that could bloom.
2. Simply cut off the spent flower head if there are any further buds. If there are no additional buds, you can cut an inch or two above the foliage by following the flower stem into the plant. This will prevent an empty stem from appearing.
3. Ensure that your shears are clean; otherwise, they may encourage bacterial growth and damage your plant.
4. Throw away the clippings in the trash. They could spread dangerous infections if you compost them.
- If you cut the stem sufficiently deep, you can use cuttings to spread soft-stemmed perennials like peonies.
If peony roots dry out, the plant will be set back and may not bloom the following season, so pick a day when the soil is damp rather than dry to start. In the fall, after removing the summer mulch and trimming back the dead foliage, dig peonies. Lift the entire root ball by making a deep cut underneath the roots with a spade or garden fork all the way around. Once the ball has been raised, use a hand cultivator or trowel to remove as much dirt as you can. If you are excavating more than one peony, focus on one plant at a time.
Remove any remaining dirt from the roots, fleshy root, and rhizome with care. On the top part of the rhizomes, look for the tiny eyeballs. Avoid breaking any buds at any costs. These stem bases serve as the foundation for fresh peony growth, and once broken, they cannot regrow.
- If peony roots dry out, the plant will be set back and may not bloom the following season, so pick a day when the soil is damp rather than dry to start.
- Lift the entire root ball by making a deep cut underneath the roots with a spade or garden fork all the way around.
Use a sharp knife to cut each rhizome into numerous pieces. Each component needs a set of roots and three to five eyes. Apply an anti-fungal powder, which is readily available at most garden centers, to each portion of the rhizome. If the peony you are dividing is particularly huge or old, use a spray bottle to keep the roots moist as you cut the rhizome.
Trim older or damaged roots on divisions and discard any pieces that are rotted or discolored. Eliminate soggy roots; they can contain nematodes or root rot. Spread roots while suspending the rhizome over the hole and amending the soil in the holes. When the hole is filled, position the rhizome so that the eyes are only a few inches below the surface. More than two inches of eye burying will probably prevent blooming. In southern growth zones, plants should be placed no deeper than 1.5 inches. Water the new plant thoroughly once the hole has been filled.
- Use a sharp knife to cut each rhizome into numerous pieces.
- Spread roots while suspending the rhizome over the hole and amending the soil in the holes.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Peony stems can be multiplied by cuttings if the stem is cut sufficiently deep.
To lift the entire root ball, use a spade or garden fork all the way around.
Within a season or two of planting, peonies blossom, and each plant is identical to the parent.
Yes, cuttings can be used to reproduce soft-stemmed perennials like peonies as long as the stem is cut sufficiently deep.
Yes, peonies can be multiplied by cuttings if the stem is cut sufficiently deep.